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Expressing confidence in the ongoing conservation programme to increase the number of Great Indian Bustard (GIB), a critically endangered bird species in India, Union Cabinet Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav Sunday said the government is committed to bringing up the bird’s population in India.
Yadav was in Ahmedabad to address a discussion on ‘Green Growth – Vikas Bhi, Sanrakshan Bhi’ organised by the state BJP to mark nine years of the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre.
“First of all, we are completely committed towards this (conservation of GIB). We have preserved desert forest of 3,600 square kilometres around Barmer, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur,” Yadav said in response to a question from noted birdwatcher Bakul Trivedi on the need to take serious action for the conservation of GIB by converting the overhead power cables into underground cables in the border districts considered among the last few habitats of the bird.
The Union Minister, however, denied that the sharp decline in the number of GIB was due to the overhead power cables. “In the 1960s, 1,200-1,300 birds were there. Between 1990 and 2000, only 250 were left. Back then, there was no power company. Then why did this sharp decline happen? I am saying it as a responsible minister that it (the decline) happened due to poaching,” Yadav said.
Emphasising that he was confident about the ongoing conservation programme for GIB, he said that development and environment can go hand-in-hand. “It (development) has no role in the decline of the bird. I have read a report thoroughly in which (it is mentioned) that only four birds died (due to the overhead cables),” the Union Minister said.
In reference to the breeding programme for GIB in Rajasthan, Yadav said, “I assure you that we will definitely increase the (number of GIB) birds. We will move ahead with development and environment together. We brought back cheetahs, which went extinct 70 years back. These are our own (birds)… I am saying it with confidence and we are committed towards its preservation. Currently, our scientists and foresters are working on it and it will definitely bring up its population.”
Among the attendees of the event were various industrialists from the Vatva cluster of Ahmedabad who raised concerns on the reported non-calculation of the Comprehensive Environment Pollution Index (CEPI) score since 2018 affecting their growth and the project on deep-sea discharge of chemical effluents for Ahmedabad industries reportedly getting holed up due to the Kalpsar project.
Assuring them of action according to the rules, Yadav directed them to make a representation to his ministry in Delhi.
Yadav, during his speech, also highlighted a number of initiatives of the Modi government in the direction of green growth such as increased forest cover, solar energy production and rise in the number of Ramsar sites in the country.
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